Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu on Thursday was named the most valuable athlete in Japanese professional sports for the second year in a row. The Japan Professional Sports Association selected Asashoryu for the award after he became the first wrestler in sumo history to win all six meets in a year and posted a record-breaking 84 wins in the elite makuuchi division.
Newly promoted Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu won the Rookie of the Year award, while the Chiba Lotte Marines, who won their first Japan Series title in 31 years, and J. League first-division side Gamba Osaka, which claimed its first top flight victory, were also honored, along with Chicago White Sox infielder Tadahito Iguchi.